Climate change is sending temperatures in the Middle East soaring to record levels, and the energy consumption by indoor cooling systems in the region increased five-fold between 1990 and 2016. Air conditioners use hydrofluorocarbons HFCs, which represent a small percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, but can capture up to 3000 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Reducing the energy consumed by air conditioners while resisting extreme temperatures in the Middle East is crucial for striking a balance.

For this purpose, UAE-based firm Strata Manufacturing has joined forces with German AI engineering platform developer Hyperganic and 3D-printing firm EOS to build the world’s most energy-efficient air conditioners. The joint initiative will rely on Hyperganic’s algorithmic engineering, which designs heat exchangers based on physical principles of nature. Together the trio will develop a system that will be ten times more energy-efficient than all existing models.

The project will be displayed at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change during the COP28 UAE, which will be hosted at Dubai’s Expo City in 2023. The collaboration between diverse firms has been facilitated by the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.

According to the International Energy Agency, there will be a three-fold increase in energy consumption for air conditioning in the next 28 years. This highlights an urgent need to make cooling systems more energy-efficient since they already account for 10% of the global electricity usage. Hyperganic’s team will consist of 20 engineers by 2023 and will collaborate with counterparts from Strata and EOS on the project.